Meds. off floor taste YUMMY!

Nurses General Nursing

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So, just curious as to what everyone else thinks about this. I've seen several nurses drop meds on the floor in front of their patients, pick them up, and give them anyways. Is this common? I asked one nurse about it and she said that it saves the hospital money... but I was taught that's not proper practice. So what do you think about this and what do you do when you drop meds?

~Crystal

Specializes in Psych.
:rolleyes: hmmm... the way nursing homes are now, and how much is so "budget" money, i would give it to them. afterall , it's hard to get another pill quickly from pharmacy if needed. just wipe it off and give/:beercuphe

You're funny! I like that! :D

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I'm a nursing student, and I had a situation when my pt. was having 15 meds at once. He bumped into my arm as I was handing them the cups, and some pills fell on the floor, I picked them up, and I was going to replace them, but he insisted to take them. So he did. He is a Physician assistant btw. thinking back I would probably not do it if it happen in the future, but I feel bad for doing it now. Please advise

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While I agree that it seems nasty to pick up something off the floor and give, realistically the chance that they will get any germs on the pill are very little. The pill is dry and microorganisms aren't going to stick to them.

I have done both, have worked both in long term care and hospital, more likely to give dropped pill in ltc due to not having extra.

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I know I made a mistake, by giving in to the pt. demands... I won't do it again ever... but my conscience is getting the best of the sanity I have left (going thru finals). any help will be appreciated..

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Specializes in NICU.
I know I made a mistake, by giving in to the pt. demands... I won't do it again ever... but my conscience is getting the best of the sanity I have left (going thru finals). any help will be appreciated..

Not sure what help you need - you know you made an error and you won't do it again. I'm assuming the pt didn't get some kind of hideous infection or anything, so take the lesson for what it is - realize that sometimes you have to be firm with patients and not give in to them. And don't be so hard on yourself!

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no....How would you like it if your waitress dropped your rolls on the floor and put them back on your table? Sure, Ive been to Lamperts in Alabama,where they throw the rolls, but your suppose to catch them!

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thanks elizabells, I learned my lesson.

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Specializes in Rehab, Med Surg, Home Care.

Hum. Food for thought here.

I won't give an unwrapped pill off the floor. I've had many patients argue with me to just give it to them. Agree it might be different for them to pick a pill off floor in their own home. I have picked up a pill dropped in an unopened blister pack, opened it into the med cup and given it. I'm realizing, though that I've also picked pills up that have fallen in the bedclothes or down the pt's neckline and given them without a thought. Thinking about what these meds might pick up, I just might have to reconsider this habit. (At least it's their own germs).

This thread brings me back to the night my very proper, by-the-book preceptor dropped a hard-to replace med on the floor, pick it up and say "I just kissed it up to God" and give it while I just gawked. (Far as I know, the pt had no ill effects, but-Yow!)

That being said- there should be a Distance Event for how far you can flip a pill out of a blister pack. (It seems to be directly related to how hard it is to replace the tab). My own personal best is about 6 feet- and that was without intending to! Imagine if I had been trying!

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Specializes in NICU.

That being said- there should be a Distance Event for how far you can flip a pill out of a blister pack. (It seems to be directly related to how hard it is to replace the tab). My own personal best is about 6 feet- and that was without intending to! Imagine if I had been trying!

Heee. On a not-entirely-related note, I think I won the championship for squirting a syringe of blood across the room the other day. It was an ABG, and you know how you have to press the air out through that little filter cap? For some reason it was more difficult than usual, and I pressed a leeeetle too hard, and the cap hit the ceiling and the blood went a-flyin'. Wooooops.

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Specializes in Med/Surge.
Those were my thoughts too. The floors in hospitals are probably the nastiest. I know I wouldn't accept a pill off the floor either. LOL @ 5 second rule! I think the main problem was that the nurses didn't want to take the time to go get another pill or call up the pharmacy, etc etc. But still, I guess I should report the incidents huh? Problem is... almost all the nurses on my shift do it... eek!

~Crystal

Unfortunately, this just could be the norm for some nurses but it is so gross to think about. I know a couple of the nurses that I work with do it but not me. They know me pretty good in the Pharmacy now........lol

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